Cleaning Fees are not appropriate

[zerho]

Hi there,
I’m really eager to enter the conversation, I’m very new to the platform and I asked to the support chat which was the best practice. And there I got the suggestion that it’s completely fine as long as we are transparent from the beginning that we’d ask to cover the cleaning cost.

I am really into the reciprocal sharing and trust mindset, but still I find understandable that for many reasons it might be better to ask for cleaning fees and have someone clean the apartment.

To share my experience as a host and a guest:
As a host this summer we’ll be travelling for two month, OF COURSE being on this platform I trust people entering my house, non theless I want to provide an honest and good “service”(?), so if I have 3 different families coming in a month, and I’m always away, how can I make sure that the last guests will leave the house as good as I would have loved for my guests? That’s way having our trusted cleaning person makes me feel more relaxed, so what might look a lack of respect for the previous guests it’s an attention for the following ones.
Also since we’ll manage several exchange without ever coming back we also have the cost of a postbox service for the keys, because we cannot attach a locker close to our house, so once again, even if we’re getting a lot of value by going to other houses for free, we have another cost of 10€ for each time someone gets the keys.

As a Guest, I’ve just spent 6 days in Nice, the house was amazing, and our Host is more on “your” side She said “I expect you to clean” and she was very nice because let’s say she just wanted an average level of cleanliness, she would have taken care of blankets etc.
Now, while she always has been very nice and kind, so it was a pleasure to follow her will, I have to admit that I was a bit sorry to spend my last morning cleaning the bathroom and kitchen while I could have been still enjoying the city

So in the end, I find great to have this kind of conversations,
I don’t think that there is a good and a bad way, I just think that we should invest in a clear and positive culture.

[Nathalie1]

Bonjour Zerho,

I have been travelling with HE for 18 years and here is what i do (it is an organisation, there are plenty other ways to manage).

As you i often have 2 or 3 exchanges for long vacations.
People on Homeexchange do a nice work and leave a clean appartment.

However, a maid come to do the beds and check everything is in order.
Mainly because i don’t want to stress during my holydays.
I pay this person.
On my side, i arrive in a clean appartment.
When the host pays someone to prepare it, he does what i do with my maid.
So finally, the total is zero.
Not to confuse with zerho

Some hosts ask the family to prepare the appartment including the beds and they say it works well.
I did it once and sent the photos of all the rooms to show everything was in order to my hosts.

Some hosts ask to clean and strip the beds and it is the next group who do the beds when they arrive.

I agree with you that the last day cleaning is not the funiest part of the trip BUT to exchange homes is really a state of mind =
To welcome people as you would welcome your parents and friends.

Sure you would prefer to go to the beach instead of cleaning the bathroom - who does not? - and may be ready to pay for this service.
In this case, you are no more a friend but a guest who wants a service.

My husband says, for $150 i even don’t launch the dishwasher!
Believe me , it would change badly the community which would become more demanding and dirty.

This is why some HE hosts say they should stay on Airbnb.

[Orlando123]

I agree with you.

[Orlando123]

I have to respectfully disagree.
I often traveled with 4 small children, expecting me to leave the house in the same condition that it was found is just unrealistic. Where would I have time to do the beds, and mop the floors? Sure, I’d leave it tidy and absolutely free of clutter and dirty dishes, no stains or damages but to expect me to make it ready for your next arrival (which is often the case) is unreasonable.
Especially if you travel in large groups - who is going to properly clean the house after the extensive use? No one would be willing to welcome large families/ groups if you’d need to pay yourself for a full day of cleaning afterwards.
I guess if it’s a small apartment, then maybe, but if it’s a big house, no way.
I believe charging the cleaning fee when you swap the houses of same standard and size as yours is not necessary, people on both sides will have to pay with money or their own time (both equally valuable) to organise the house before and after the guests.
But if it’s a point exchange, the host will have to pay for a professional clean before your arrival and after, why would I not pay for it?
Professional cleaning is very expensive, and if you have a nice house you take pride in, you should have no issues to charge for cleaning.

[Sergio]

I agree with Nathalie1. I’m receiving friends. I don’t charge them for cleaning. I pay it. My friend can enjoy my house and my city. The same thing will happen to me when I go to his house or another friend’s house.

[Jasper]

Respectfully Orlando123, I have never used the phrase “leave the house in the same condition as it was found” or anything to that effect.
Other people have been throwing that concept around.

I am objecting to the entire concept of charging a cleaning fee.
Ever. Period.

I was just opening a conversation. Other people have been talking about related issues and I think this thread is doing really well.

Whether or not you exchange or use GPs, this community encourages people to discuss every aspect of the ‘exchange’ - and that would include cleaning. There are many possibilities … many suggested here.

Personally, I leave the places I stay in perfect condition because I want a good review and I really appreciate the hospitality.
But I only ever do 1-2 nights and it is easy for me to not mess things up. Not everyone’s situation is the same (of course).

On the flip side, we have a 5-bedroom house that has accommodated groups of 16-26 people. Or 2 people and a dog.
Regardless, we only ask that people do the best they are able. Even if guests “clean everything”, we still spend 10-14 hours readying the house for future guests.

Also, we never want people to strip the beds or do any laundering of towels. But, if we were not in town during back-2-back exchangers, if it was discussed and everyone agreed to play nice, I think it would work. I would probably lower the required amount of guests points though.

We do not charge a cleaning fee … unless the carpet needs to be cleaned professionally (happened one time when melted chocolate was dripped throughout the house onto white carpet - they did not get a good review!).

Someone mentioned that an HE representative (and HE ambassador above) said it wasn’t a problem to add cleaning fees.
That is what particularly concerns me. This platform of respectful exchangers is becoming a vacation rental site.

I really appreciate that people new to HE are participating in this discussion and seeing how those of us who have been exchanging for a decade or so (with no cleaning fees) have come out unscathed and very happy.

[Sigrune]

I think it’s great if it’s possible to pay for cleaning as I don’t like cleaning during my vacation but I find it ludicrous if it’s obligatory. The exchanges revolve around trust :S

[Joachimmand]

I don’t think cleaning fees are appropriate for reciprocal exchanges, but for a point-based exchange, I wouldn’t mind too much. In general I like to have the cleaning done by professional people, but I respect the home swappers who would rather clean by themselves. I have 3 kids in the age of 1-9 and it is an enormous undertaking for me and my wife to find the opportunity to clean, time it before departure, and then keep it clean once it is done

[cafrobose]

I think they are appropriate. The length of some stays making the house up, the cleaning fees are nominal over the course of the longer stay. It is not like a STR where you pay hundreds a day to stay in a location. It is a small cost for that extra vacation day you don’t spend cleaning. And the host doesn’t resent the person who stayed due to poor cleaning or having to clean when they come home. That said while I list a fee I haven’t charged so far due to small numbers of people and shorter stays. I leave sheets out and people remake beds, just like my family would. I leave the fee there because sometimes it may be needed because I can’t do it and can’t be sure what a guest is able to do. I think it is like any additional item between the host and the guest.

[BettyB]

We have been exchanging for 25 years. Four years ago, we were asked to pay a cleaning fee when we did a guests points exchange. I was a little taken aback. We had always done our own cleaning at the end of the exchange, striving to leave our exchange home as good or better than when we arrived. We have now paid a cleaning fee on a few occasions and I have completely changed my mind about doing our own cleaning before departure. So long as the cleaning fee is reasonable (based on the costs in the local economy), I am more than happy to pay the cleaning fee. When you are enjoying all the benefits of staying in someone’s home for no cost, paying a reasonable cleaning fee is not a burden. It is lovely to be able to relax the day before departure rather than washing floors etc. We always ensure the home is tidy and everything back where we found it. The hosts are happy because they get exactly the type of cleaning that they expect as they employ the cleaner. So, we are now happy to do it either way, based on conversations with the host.

[Rastebob1]

I think it is OK to charge as long as it is upfront and guests know about it. I once got asked to pay a cleaning fee o the last day as the host had a airbnb or whatever guest coming after. I paid but was not happy. As for myself, I have had my home returned to me in messy states (after being delivered in a very clean state to a guest) and I have stayed at home that were delivered to me messy. My solution so far has been to say I expect it delivered back to me as I delivered it or if they prefer not to clean I can arrange a cleaning service if given appropriate notice beforehand. Therefore, no surprises. I think if everyone knows what to expect then it is fine. If you don’t want to pay or clean find another place.

[Rastebob1]

I never charged cleaning fees originally but only began this hybrid approach because of sloppy guests (in my opinion). Who wants to come home after a long trip to a messy home and have to clean.

[JanD]

Initially I didn’t charge cleaning fee because I thought the spirit of HE is a barter of accommodation (you expect a clean accommodation so you also provide a clean accommodation; however you make that happen is under the hood). However, more and more, I am finding cleaning fees on this site.

So, I recently edited my home to this:

“A cleaning fee of $100 per stay is charged to pay for cleaning services when the exchange is with GPs. Cleaning fee is waived for reciprocal exchanges, unless the host also charges a cleaning fee - then in such case, a cleaning fee will be charged in parity with the exchanged property.”

Why $100? I live in a high cost area where the minimum wage is $20/hour (and cleaners charge way more than that), and my home has two floors (and 1600 ft.), so four hours of cleaning/doing laundry is about the time to clean the house well.

This is my home: Blissful Condo in Lake Merritt

While I am on the purist camp of keeping the spirit of HE (no cleaning fees), I am also a pragmatist - not everyone has the same circumstance/location/standard, etc. And so I decided to act accordingly: you charge me no fee, I will charge you no fee; you charge me with a fee, I charge you with a fee.

Is this equitable enough?

[Sergio]

Hello. I think the host should pay for the cleaning of their home. If everyone did that, it would be fair. I don’t charge a cleaning fee, I only charge when the guest also charges at home. I describe that in the description.

[ChicagoRox]

Suggestion for HomeExchange: If cleaning fees have to be permitted, create a space on listings where the first thing you see is that they have a cleaning fee and how much it is. I can’t add up the time and effort wasted getting excited about something that ended up having a prohibitive fee that wasn’t obvious up front.

[Nathalie1]

Sergio and Jand

I wrote that an amount equivalent to the one written in the host’s listing would be requested.

So the total is 0

[Sergio]

Hello. I want to clarify my thoughts. I think that the host should not charge for cleaning. That would help guests spend less money on their trip. When I receive a request, I check if that future guest charges cleaning fees to his guests. If he charges, then I charge him too. If he doesn’t charge, I don’t charge either. In my house description, I explain it that way.

[Etienne]

That’s not planned at all, and could cause problems to the platform with the authorities ( where some already consider exchanging like renting-we know it’s not of course - but see Amsterdam rules for example). The norm is clean yourself. Those who want to have a fee Can, but they deal with it themselves

[BritMini9613]

I love the flexibility of having the option to pay a cleaner (when available/ when it makes sense) and also understand that sometimes a home is both a home that we can be exchanged as well as a rental (so sometimes a cleaning fee is necessary). I will say, though, that it seems more often than not, cleaning fees are required out of the gate without even a discussion with potential exchangers and that contributes to the ‘transactional’ feel that this platform can sometimes have.

[SanDiego]

I disagree. I exchange my two places frequently and I need to have every guest have a wonderful experience in a clean house. If I allow the guests to clean before they leave, they have different standards of cleanliness, and some don’t have time to clean due to catching a flight, etc. since these are second homes I am not there personally to clean so I must hire a cleaning crew to clean and make sure that it is to the same cleaning standard that I mandate. I also don’t mind paying cleaning fees during my stays, as I respect the homeowners decision to do so and deliver a similar clean experience for all of their guests. The only time I would waive a cleaning fee is if it is reciprocal.